The brakes of the 50-seater bus, which was transporting 48 learners, reportedly failed, resulting in the bus hitting another vehicle from behind on Thursday afternoon (10/4).

The incident occurred on a busy intersection near Mega City Shopping Centre, said North West Community Safety and Transport Management spokesperson, Charles Matlou, adding neither of the drivers was hurt, though some learners sustained minor injuries. All 48 learners were taken to Bophelong Provincial Hospital.

Matlou said the learners, including twelve boys and 36 girls in Grades 8 to 12, are from Lokaleng, Mogosane and Tlapeng outside Mmabatho.

“The Department of Community Safety and Transport Management’s Chief Director (responsible for transport operation), Mpho Rantona, worked with the teachers till very late to ensure all learners are transported to the hospital,” he said.

Matlou added that 47 of the learners were discharged after a medical check-up, while only one remained for overnight observation. He said the department made arrangements for each learner to be transported home. Alternative transport was provided to ensure that learners are transported to school.

Community Safety and Transport MEC Wessels Morweng has called for a full report detailing the cause of the accident and the roadworthiness of the bus involved. This latest incident comes amid heightened scrutiny over the safety of learner transport in the province, currently under investigation by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

Last month, the SAHRC conducted a three-day inquiry into the crisis, which began on Tuesday (11/3), gathering oral and written submissions from a range of stakeholders. North West Legislature Community Safety and Transport Management Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Freddy Sonakile, appeared before the commission and highlighted ongoing safety failures.

He recounted an alarming case where officials recently stopped a 14-seater minibus taxi carrying 40 learners from Sedibelo Secondary School.

SAHRC Commissioner Nomahlubi Kwinana said the investigation was triggered by numerous complaints lodged with their provincial office. “An inspection of over 70 buses revealed a systemic crisis in scholar transport,” she said, further stressing that the failures “violate learners’ constitutional right to education.” Kwinana added that the issue was raised “by children themselves during a recent SAHRC conference”.

North West Education MEC Viola Motsumi came under fire after failing to attend the SAHRC hearings, opting instead to travel to Italy for a Special Olympics event. Motsumi denied wrongdoing, claiming she never received an invitation to appear before the commission and only became aware of the summons after the hearing took place.

However, SAHRC Provincial Manager Shirley Mlombo criticised her absence, stating: “As the South African Human Rights Commission, we are concerned that the MEC is absent, given the seriousness of the matter and the need for accountability beyond just accounting officers.”

“It’s important to allow the MEC to formally address us before we determine our position on her absence,” Mlombo stressed.

Motsumi said she didn’t receive an invitation from the SAHRC, and that is why she missed the commission’s inquiry into scholar transport challenges. She said she was only informed about it when she was already in Italy attending the Special Olympics World Winter Games.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg